Welding Technology

Published or Revised October 20, 2021

Welding is the most common way to permanently join metal parts. Heat is applied to the pieces to be joined, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond. Because of its strength, welding is used to construct and repair parts of ships, automobiles, spacecraft and countless other manufactured products. Welding is used to join beams in constructing buildings, bridges, pipelines, and pipes in nuclear power plants and refineries. All types of welding equipment is used in a variety of positions: flat, vertical, horizontal and overhead.

Welders may perform manual welding, controlled entirely by the welder, or semi-automatic welding, where the welder uses machinery such as a wire feeder to perform welding tasks. They generally plan work from drawings or specifications or by analyzing damaged metal, using their knowledge of welding and metals. They select and set up welding equipment and may also examine welds to insure they meet standards or specifications.

PJC’s Certificate of Completion in Welding offers the student a specialized program designed to develop entry-level employment skills. This includes technical and hands-on training in structural welding, pipe welding, oxyacetylene cutting, plasma arc cutting, air carbon arc cutting and gas tungsten arc welding. The student will be required to attempt the AWS and ASME structural and pipe certifications.

PJC’s welding technology program is an industry-driven curriculum providing the opportunity to obtain necessary welding skills and technical understanding to obtain entry-level jobs in the welding vocation and related fields. The program is particularly strong in the application of basic welding processes.

All students will have the opportunity to attempt the ASME pipe certification and AWS structural certification tests. There are three certification levels featuring technical and hands-on training in structural welding (SMAW), pipe welding, oxyacetylene cutting, gas tungsten arc welding (TIG), metal inert gas welding (MIG) and flux cored arc welding (FCAW).

PJC’s Welding Program offers the following options.

Structural Steel Welding Certificate (18 credit hours)*

This certificate includes introduction to oxy-fuel, introduction to MIG welding, and introduction to and intermediate and advanced SMAW.

*This certification is required before enrolling in the Pipe Welding Technology program.

Pipe Welding Certificate (19 credit hours)*

This certificate includes introduction to, intermediate and advanced pipe welding, introduction to TIG welding and introduction to layout and fabrication.

*This certification is required before enrolling in the Advanced Welding Shop Technology program.

Advanced Welding Shop Technology Certificate (20 credit hours)

This certificate includes oxy-fuel cutting and welding, intermediate and advanced layout and fabrication, intermediate welding/multiple processes and special topics in welding.

Associate in Applied Science in Welding Technology (60 credit hours)

The PJC Welding Program day section meets from 7:30 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., Monday through Thursday each week; the night section meets Monday through Friday 4:00-10:00 p.m. Students must buy toolkits, as well as personal equipment such as hoods, safety glasses, etc. Up to date course fees may be found in the current PJC class schedule.

For information about PJC's welding technology program, contact Matt Siddens, Welding Instructor, at msiddens@parisjc.edu, 903-782-0449 or 903-782-0384.